Hibiscus plant named ‘Tye-Dye Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Tye-Dye Wind’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniform, dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large mottled light red and pink-colored flowers; good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping; and lack of susceptibility to pathogens common to  Hibiscus .

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Tye-Dye Wind’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hisbiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tye-Dye Wind’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus cultivars with a dense, uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production, early and uniform flowering, numerous flowers per lateral branch, desirable flower color and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in early 1999, of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Captiva Wind, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/156,544, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number YB-1715, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar ‘Tye-Dye Wind’ was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. on Sep. 6, 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Alva, Fla. since February, 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Tye-Dye Wind’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tye-Dye Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tye-Dye Wind’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniform,         dense and symmetrical plant habit that is appropriate for         container production.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   4. Large mottled light red and pink-colored flowers.     -   5. Good resistance to flower bud abscission during shipping.     -   6. Not susceptible to pathogens common to Hibiscus grown under         Florida production conditions.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Captiva Wind. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the cultivar Captiva Wind in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have leaves with entire margins         whereas plants of the cultivar Captiva Wind have deeply-lobed         leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Captiva Wind         differ in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Captiva         Wind have lavender-colored flowers with pink-colored margins.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, the proprietary Hibiscus selection code number YB-1715. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower coloration as plants of the male parent         selection have creamy white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Belize Breeze, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,492. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of the cultivar Belize Breeze in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus had leaves with entire margins         whereas plants of the cultivar Belize Breeze had lobed leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smoother petal margins than         plants of the cultivar Belize Breeze.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Belize         Breeze differed in flower color as plants of the cultivar Belize         Breeze had bright pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Tye-Dye Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical flower and leaves of ‘Tye-Dye Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Alva, Fla. in 15-cm containers in polycarbonate-covered greenhouses during the spring under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to about 37° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 7° C. to about 26° C. Plants were about four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar ‘Tye-Dye     Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar             Captiva Wind, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application             Ser. No. 10/156,544.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis designated as code number YB-1715, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of             24° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Somewhat freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,             somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniform, dense and             symmetrical plant habit. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three to             four lateral branches develop after removal of terminal             apex.         -   Plant height.—About 34 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 42 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.         -   Color, immature.'Darker than 146A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A tinged with close to 199A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 8.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse to cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate to crenate.         -   Aspect.—Concave; apex reflexed.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous; leathery.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: More green than             147A. Developing foliage, lower surface: More green than             146A. Mature foliage, upper surface: Darker than 147A;             venation, similar to lamina. Mature foliage, lower surface:             More green to 147A; midvein, close to 146A; lateral veins,             similar to lamina.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Slightly pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 147A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils. Uniform and freely flowering habit with usually about             three or four flower buds and/or open flowers per terminal             apex. Flowers face mostly upright.         -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, mottled light red and             pink-colored flowers. Flowers are open for about one day.             Flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather.         -   Flower diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm.         -   Flower bud (just before showing color).—Resistance to             abscission during shipping: Plants of the new Hibiscus have             been observed to resist flower bud drop when stored in a             closed box for five days at 13° C. Rate of opening: About             one or two days depending on temperatures. Length: About             2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Color: Close             to 147A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7 cm.             Width: At widest point, about 6.5 cm; at base, about 5 mm.             Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous, satiny. Lower surface: Glabrous; somewhat rugose.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 55B mottled with 52A to 54A to 54B. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 55C to 155B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About             1.1 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth; waxy. Texture, lower             surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About seven fused at base. Length: About             1.6 cm. Width: About 1.4 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubsecent. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: Slightly bent towards the flower. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color: More green than 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 65. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close             to 52A. Anther shape: Reniform. Anther size: About 2 mm by             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 13D. Amount of pollen:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 13A. Gynoecium: Pistil             length: About 7.2 cm. Pistil diameter: Towards the apex,             about 3 mm; towards the base, about 7 mm. Style texture:             Smooth, waxy. Style color: Towards the apex, close to 52A;             towards the base, close to 50D. Stigma appearance: Five,             rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 45A.             Ovary color: Close to 154D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 0° C. to about 38° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under     Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible     to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and     Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to     be tolerant to pests and other pathogens. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Tye-Dye Wind’ as illustrated and described. 